Anambra High Court: Native Doctor Sentenced to 6 Years Imprisonment

File photo: Federal High Court, Gombe Kindly share this story: The Anambra State High Court, presided over by Justice Jude Obiorah, on Friday sentenced a popular native doctor from Umuofor Village, Okija, in the Ihiala Local Government Area of the state, Ekene Igboekweze, popularly known as “Eke Hit”, to six years’ imprisonment on each of two counts. The defendant was found guilty on counts one and two of offences bordering on advertising charms for wealth, claiming to make people rich through “Oke Ite” and other rituals, and preparing charms for criminals, among others. The sentences are to run concurrently without an option of a fine, with the period already spent in detention taken into consideration. Igboekweze was arrested by Agunechemba security personnel in February 2025, alongside two other popular native doctors, after Governor Chukwuma Soludo signed the Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025. The native doctor became widely known on social media for advertising charms for wealth, among other practices. He was arrested alongside the two others under the law, which prohibits native doctors from claiming to make people rich through “Oke Ite” and other rituals or preparing charms for criminals. The convict and the other native doctors were arraigned before the court on April 4, 2025, on charges including conspiracy, kidnapping, preparing protective charms for criminals and money rituals. In his defence, the defendant, who claimed to be a registered herbalist and a member of the Odinani Okija Traditional Association, explained that he only used herbs and roots in his practices. He also said the viral videos for which he was arrested were old content created before the Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025 came into force. Soludo pardons jailed native doctor, appoints him youth ambassador Anambra residents benefit from FG’s move to boost businesses Obi rejects Anambra debt claims, vows to end 2027 campaign if proven wrong Delivering judgment, Justice Obiorah said the prosecution had proved counts one and two beyond reasonable doubt but resolved count three in favour of the defendant. The judge said, “The prosecution proved counts one and two beyond reasonable doubt, but count three is resolved in favour of the defendant. “The defendant is hereby found guilty on counts one and two of offences bordering on advertising charms for wealth, claiming to make people rich through ‘Oke Ite’ and other rituals, and preparing charms for criminals, among others. “He is hereby sentenced to six years’ imprisonment on each count. The sentences shall run concurrently without an option of a fine, with the period spent in detention taken into consideration.” Before he was sentenced, the defendant pleaded for forgiveness, saying he had learnt his lessons and urging the court to consider his family and newborn triplets, whom he said he had not seen. Testifying to his good behaviour and pleading for the court’s mercy, one of his two wives, Elizabeth, and his half-brother, Chief Mike, said the defendant was the only son of his mother in a polygamous family and described him as a kind person who was good to those around him. Speaking to journalists after the proceedings, counsel to Eke Hit, Chief Emmanuel Egbunonu, said the court had been considerate in waiving the ₦40m fine attached to the two charges. Also speaking, Fabian Okeke of the Anambra State Ministry of Justice described the judgment as a measure aimed at protecting society from dangerous trends that destroy human creativity and the ability to engage in meaningful ventures. Ikenna Obianeri Ikenna Obianeri is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over 10 years of experience in reporting and storytelling. He conducts incisive interviews, covers crime and environmental issues, and produces engaging feature stories tailored for digital audiences. Ikenna’s work reflects strong newsroom experience, editorial insight, and a commitment to impactful, audience-focused journalism Kindly share